Bava Kamma 6

Chapter 6

א ואי דלא אפקרינהו אי לשמואל דאמר כולם מבורו למדנו היינו בור ואי לרב דאמר כולם משורו למדנו היינו שור
1 if [on the other hand] they were not abandoned, then, according to Samuel, who maintains that all public nuisances come within the scope of the law applicable to Pit, they would be included in Pit, whereas according to Rab, who maintains that in such circumstances they rather partake of the nature of Ox, they are equivalent in law to Ox.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The derivatives of which are equal to the Principal. ');"><sup>1</sup></span>
ב מאי שנא בור שכן תחלת עשייתו לנזק וממונך ושמירתו עליך הני נמי תחלת עשייתן לנזק וממונך ושמירתן עליך אלא תולדה דבור כבור וכי קאמר רב פפא אתולדה דמבעה
2 [And even according to Samuel] why should [the derivatives of Pit] be different? Just as Pit is from its very inception a source of injury, and, being your possession, is under your control, so is the case with these [derivatives] which from their very inception [as nuisances] also are sources of injury and being your possession, are under your control! — The derivative of Pit is therefore equal to Pit, and R. Papa's statement [to the contrary] refers to the derivative of 'Spoliator'.
ג מאי ניהו אי לשמואל דאמר מבעה זו שן הא אוקימנא תולדה דשן כשן אי לרב דאמר מבעה זה אדם מאי אבות ומאי תולדות אית ביה
3 But what is it? If we are to follow Samuel, who takes 'Spoliator' to denote Tooth,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra p. 9. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ד וכי תימא אב ניעור תולדה ישן והתנן אדם מועד לעולם בין ער בין ישן
4 behold we have [already] established that the derivative of Tooth equals Tooth;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra p. 7. ');"><sup>3</sup></span>
ה אלא אכיחו וניעו היכי דמי אי בהדי דאזלי קמזקי כחו הוה אי בתר דנייח בין לרב בין לשמואל היינו בור אלא תולדה דמבעה כמבעה וכי קאמר רב פפא אתולדה דאש
5 if on the other hand Rab's view is accepted, identifying 'Spoliator' With Man,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra p. 9. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
ו תולדה דאש מאי ניהו אילימא אבנו סכינו ומשאו שהניחן בראש גגו ונפלו ברוח מצויה והזיקו היכי דמי אי בהדי דאזלו קא מזקי היינו אש
6 what Principals and what derivatives could there be in him? You could hardly suggest that Man [doing damage] while awake is Principal, but becomes derivative [when causing damage] while asleep, for have we not learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra p. 136. ');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ז מ"ש אש דכח אחר מעורב בהן וממונך ושמירתו עליך הני נמי כח אחר מעורב בהן וממונך ושמירתן עליך אלא תולדה דאש כאש וכי קאמר רב פפא אתולדה דרגל
7 'Man is in all circumstances <i>Mu'ad</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., civilly liable in full for all misdeeds. ');"><sup>5</sup></span>
ח רגל הא אוקימנא תולדה דרגל כרגל בחצי נזק צרורות דהלכתא גמירי לה
8 whether awake or asleep'? — Hence [R. Papa's statement<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 6, n. 6. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
ט ואמאי קרי לה תולדה דרגל לשלם מן העלייה
9 will] refer to phlegm<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the derivative of Man. ');"><sup>7</sup></span>
י והא מבעיא בעי רבא דבעי רבא חצי נזק צרורות מגופו משלם או מן העלייה משלם
10 [expectorated from mouth or nostrils]. But in what circumstances? If it did damage while in motion, it is [man's] direct agency! If [on the other hand] damage resulted after it was at rest, it would be included, according to both Rab and Samuel,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 7, n. 4. ');"><sup>8</sup></span>
יא לרבא מבעיא ליה לרב פפא פשיטא ליה
11 in the category of Pit! — The derivative of 'Spoliator' is therefore equal to 'Spoliator'; and R. Papa's statement [to the contrary]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 6, n. 6. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
יב לרבא דמבעיא ליה אמאי קרי לה תולדה דרגל לפוטרה ברה"ר:
12 refers to the derivative of Fire.
יג המבעה וההבער כו': מאי מבעה רב אמר מבעה זה אדם ושמואל אמר מבעה זה השן
13 What is the derivative of Fire? Shall I say it is a stone, a knife and luggage which having been placed upon the top of one's roof were thrown down by a normal wind and did damage? Then in what circumstances? If they did damage while in motion, they are equivalent to Fire; and why should they be different? Just as Fire is aided by an external force, and, being your possession, is under your control, so also is the case with these [derivatives] which are aided by an external force, and, being your possession, are under your control! — The derivative of Fire is therefore equal to Fire; and R. Papa's statement [to the contrary]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 6, n. 6. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
יד רב אמר מבעה זה אדם דכתיב (ישעיהו כא, יב) אמר שומר אתא בקר וגם לילה אם תבעיון בעיו
14 refers to the derivative of Foot.
טו ושמואל אמר מבעה זה השן דכתיב (עובדיה א, ו) איך נחפשו עשו נבעו מצפוניו מאי משמע כדמתרגם רב יוסף איכדין איתבליש עשו אתגלין מטמרוהי
15 'Foot'! Have we not established that the derivative of Foot is equal to Foot?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra p. 7. ');"><sup>9</sup></span>
טז ורב מאי טעמא לא אמר כשמואל אמר לך מי קתני נבעה
16 — There is the payment of half damages done by pebbles [kicked from under an animal's feet] — a payment established by tradition.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. infra p. 80. ');"><sup>10</sup></span>
יז ושמואל מ"ט לא אמר כרב אמר לך מי קתני בועה
17 On account of what [legal] consequence is it designated 'derivative of Foot'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it pays only half the damage. ');"><sup>11</sup></span>
יח מכדי קראי לא כמר דייקי ולא כמר דייקי רב מ"ט לא אמר כשמואל תנא שור וכל מילי דשור
18 So that the payment should likewise be enforced [even] from the best of the defendant's possessions.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Unlike half damages in the case of Horn where the payment is collected only out of the body of the animal that did the damage. ');"><sup>12</sup></span>
יט ושמואל נמי הא תנא ליה שור אמר רב יהודה תנא שור לקרנו ומבעה לשינו והכי קאמר לא ראי הקרן שאין הנאה להזיקו כראי השן שיש הנאה להזיקה
19 But did not Raba question whether the half-damage of Pebbles is collected only from the body of the animal or from any of the defendant's possessions?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Infra p. 83. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> — This was doubtful [only] to Raba, whereas R. Papa was [almost] certain about it [that the latter is the case]. But according to Raba, who remained doubtful [on this point], on account of what [legal] consequence is it termed 'derivative of Foot'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. p. 8, n. 10. ');"><sup>14</sup></span> — So that it may also enjoy exemption [where the damage was done] on public ground.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Just as is the case with Foot, cf. infra p. 17. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> THE SPOLIATOR [<i>MAB'EH</i>] AND THE FIRE etc. What is [meant by] <i>MAB'EH</i>? — Rab said: <i>MAB'EH</i> denotes Man [doing damage], but Samuel said: <i>MAB'EH</i> signifies Tooth [of trespassing cattle]. Rab maintains that <i>MAB'EH</i> denotes Man,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As possessing freedom of will and the faculty of discretion and enquiry, i.e., constituting a cultural and rational being; idiots and minors are thus excluded, cf. infra p. 502. ');"><sup>16</sup></span> for it is written: The watchman said: The morning cometh, and also the night — if ye will enquire, enquire ye.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Isa. XXI, 12; the root in each case being the same. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> Samuel [on the other hand] holds that <i>MAB'EH</i> signifies Tooth, for it is written: How is Esau searched out! How are his hidden places sought out!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] Ob. I, 6; the root in each case being the same. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> But how is this deduced?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., how could a term denoting 'seeking out' stand for Tooth? ');"><sup>19</sup></span> As rendered by R. Joseph:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who was exceptionally well conversant with Targumic texts. Some explain it on account of his having been blind (v. infra p. 501), and thus unable to cite the original Biblical text because of the prohibition to recite orally passages from the Written Law, cf. Git. 60a. [Others ascribe the edition of the Targum on the prophets to him, v. Graetz (Geschichte IV, 326.] ');"><sup>20</sup></span> How was Esau ransacked? How were his hidden treasures exposed?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] (E.V.: sought out), translated exposed, indicates exposure and may therefore designate Tooth which is naturally hidden but becomes exposed in grazing. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> Why did not Rab agree with [the interpretation of] Samuel? — He may object: Does the Mishnah employ the term <i>NIB'EH</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the passive voice. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> [which could denote anything 'exposed']? Why [on the other hand] did not Samuel follow [the inter pretation of] Rab? — He may object: Does the Mishnah employ the term <i>BO'EH</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the kal denoting mere action; the causative (hiph'il) is used with reference to Tooth which the animal exposes in grazing. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> [which could denote 'an enquirer']? But in fact the Scriptural quotations could hardly bear out the interpretation of either of them. Why then did not Rab agree with Samuel? — THE OX [in the Mishnah] covers all kinds of damage done by ox.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cattle, including Tooth. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> How then will Samuel explain the fact that ox has already been dealt with? — Rab Judah explained: THE OX [in the Mishnah] denotes Horn, while <i>MAB'EH</i> stands for Tooth; and this is the sequence in the Mishnah: The aspects of Horn, which does not afford gratification from the injury [are not of such order of gravity] as those of Tooth which does afford gratification from the damage;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore the liability of Tooth could not he derived from that of Horn. ');"><sup>25</sup></span>